2 EDIBLE riSHES OF NEAV SOUTH WALES. 



it is circumscribed absolutely distinctive. In some forms (certain Bleu- 

 niids) the structure of the fins is almost the same as in Anacantlis." And 

 "the presence or absence of a pneumatic duct" — to the airbladder — "loses 

 much of its value as a taxonomic character, when we consider tliat probably 

 iu all fishes a communication between the pharynx and the airbladder exists 

 at an early stage of development." 



Family I— PERCID^. 



13ranchiostoi::als six or seven: pseudobranchiie generally present (rudi- 

 mentary in Lates). Body oblong or oblong-ovate, rarely elevated or 

 cylindrical. Eyes lateral. Operclcs strongly denticulated or spiuiferous. 

 Mouth iu front of the snout, with lateral clef t, which is horizontal or slightly 

 oblique. Teeth in the jaws villiform, with or without canines: present or 

 absent on the vomer, palatines, and tongue. Dorsal fins generally sepai'ated : 

 ventrals thoracic. Scales ctenid or eyelid, small or of moderate size. Lateral 

 line continuous. Airbladder present or absent, simple. Pyloric appendages 

 in small numbers. 



Geojrapliical distrihuiion. — Carnivorous fishes, inhabiting chiefly the fresh 

 waters and estuaries of both hemispheres ; a few species marine, but never 

 ■wandering far from land, nor descending beyond a moderate depth. 



Genus I.— PERCALATES. 



Lates. part. Giinther, Ann. Xat. Hist. (3) 1863, xi. p. 114. 



Percolates, Ems. & Ogl. Proc. Linn. Soc. N. S. A\^ales (2), 1887, ii. p. 182/ 



Branchiostegals six : pseudobrauchia? present. Body oblong-ovate and 

 somewhat compressed. Opercle with two spines : preopercle serrated on 

 the vertical limb, denticulated on the angle and lower limb : preorbital serrated. 

 Villiform teeth on the jaws, vomer, and palatines : tongue smooth. One dorsal 

 fin, deeply notched, with nine spines : the anal with three. Scales modei'ate, 

 ctenid, absent on the upper surface of the head : bases of the vertical fins 

 scaly. Airbladder large. Pyloric appendages in small numbers. 



Georjrapliical distribution. — South-eastern and southern coasts of Aus- 

 tralia ; northern Tasmania. 



PERCALATES COLON RUM. 



Lates colonorum, Gnth. Ann. Nat. Hist. (3) 18G3, xi. p. Ill ; Casteln. Proc. 



Zool. Soc. Vict. 1872, i. p. 43, and Pi'oc. Linn. Soc. N. S. Wales, iii. 



p. 3G5 ; McCoy, Prodr. Zool. Vict. dec. ii. pi. 14 ; Macleay, Catal. 



Austr. Fish. i. p. 4 ; Woods, Fisher. N. S. Whales, p. 31, pi. i ; .Johnston, 



Proc. Eoy. Soc. Tas. 1882, pp. 50, 110. 

 Dales novem-acideatus, Steindach. SB. Ak. AV^ien, 18G6, liii. p. 428, pi. ii. fig. 1. 

 Lates similis. Casteln. Proc. Zool. Soc. Vict. 1872, i. p. 41; Macleay, Catal. 



Austr. Fish. i. p. 5. 

 Lates antarcticus, Casteln. Proc. Zool. Soc. Vict. 1S72, i. p. 41 ; Macleay, 



Catal. Auslr. Fish. i. p. 5. 

 Lates victoritp, Casteln. Proc. Zool. Soc. "\'ict. IS72, i. p. 45: Macleay, Catal. 



Austr. Fisli. i. p. 5. 

 Lates curtus, Casteln. Pes. Fish. Austr. p. 5, 1875 ; Macleay, Catal. Austr. 



Fish. i. p. G. 

 Lates ramsayi, Macleay, Catal. Austr. Fish. i. p. G, 1881. 



